New York Times - Ships and Shipping

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

Saudi Arabia Set to Buy Four Lockheed Martin Freedom-Class Variants in $11.25B Deal

A
Lockheed Martin concept for variations of the Freedom-class LCS design
from corvette to Frigate sized hulls. Lockheed Martin Photo

Four Lockheed Martin Freedom-class ship variants are set to form the
backbone of the Royal Saudi Navy’s Eastern Fleet as part of a $11.25
billion foreign military sales case presented to Congress on Monday.

“This acquisition will enhance the stability and maritime security in
the sea areas around the Arabian Peninsula and support strategic
objectives of the United States,” read the notification. “The proposed
sale will provide Saudi Arabia with an increased ability to meet current
and future maritime threats from enemy weapon systems. The
Multi-Mission Surface Combatant ships will provide protection-in- depth
for critical industrial infrastructure and for the sea lines of
communication.”

Unlike the Freedom Flight 0 Littoral Combat Ships, the Saudi ships do
not appear to have the modular mission package ability and will be
rather a more traditional multi-mission model.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to provide the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia with four multi-mission surface combatants (MMSC), based
on the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship,” read a Lockheed Martin
statement provided to USNI News.
“We look forward to working with both navies in developing a low-risk,
cost effective approach that delivers value back to the customers.”

Lockheed as presented several sizes of the Freedom for foreign sales
and is yet unclear what the final tonnage of the Saudi variant will be.

The quartet — as described in the DSCA notification — will emphasize
traditional anti-air warfare and will be built around two eight-cell
Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) and an Airbus TRS-4D active electronically scanned array (AESA) air search radar.

The list also included 532 Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow
Missiles (ESSM) which can be loaded four to a Mk 41 cell. With 16 cells
per hull, the Saudi Freedoms will be able to potentially field 64
anti-air missiles per-ship.

A December Naval Sea Systems Command contract award to Lockheed
Martin included about $93 million for Mk 41 systems for Saudi Arabia,
giving early hints to the direction of their SNEP II ship buys.

The ships will also field the 1980s era Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon Block
II anti-ship missiles (ASM), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar suites
and torpedoes as well as an OTO Melara 76 mm main deck gun.

The ships will also be equipped with Link 16 datalinks, which could
allow for greater interoperability with U.S. forces in the Middle East.

The public announcement ends almost a decade of speculation and wrangling over the future of the SNEP II program.

The Saudis inquired into platforms ranging from both variants of the
Navy’s LCS — Freedom and Austal USA Independence-class LCS — as well as
the higher end Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) guided missile destroyer.

The ships are the largest dollar component of a series of upgrades
that would also modernize the King Abdul-Aziz Naval Base on the Persian
Gulf.

“This massive purchase could include destroyers, patrol craft,
helicopters, ground vehicles and other platforms, as well as warehouses
and substantial upgrades to port infrastructure. The requirements are
still being developed, but recent estimates values the overall program
at around $20 billion,” according to an October U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers presentation.